Tube vulcanizer



0. J. KUHLKE TUBE VULCANIZER Filed Jan. 1927 Dec. 13, 1927.

0rr Ara/w: I MAM TORN E Y Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO T. KUHLKE, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE KUHLKE MACHINE COMPANY,OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TUBE VULOANIZER.

Application filed January 18, 1927. Serial No. 161,786.

This invention relates to a paratus for the vulcanization of inner tu esand particularly to improvements in that type of vulcanizer in which thetube is cured while in circular condition and while the interior of thetube is expanded by internal fluid pressure.

The invention does not relate to the gem eral structure of vulcanizersof this type, but

to the means for receiving or housing the valve stem of the tube, sothat the application does notinclude details of the vulcanizer mechanismas they form no part of the present invention. In fact, the features ofthe present invention are adaptable for use with many different types ofvulcanizers.

In the manufacture of inner tubes, the operator is called uponfrequently to cure tubes having straight valve stems and then tubeshaving bent valve stems, both types of valve stems being used with innertubes. Heretofore, tube vulcanizing apparatus suitable for curing tubeswith one type of valve stem has not been suitable for curing tubes withother types of valve stems without making considerable changes in theapparatus, and chan es from one to the other have not been readlly made.The present apparatus is designed to receive and accommodate either typeof valve stem, the change being made easily and quickly, and to thisobject the invention is directed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for clamping thevalve stem 36. so that it may be retained during the vulcanizingoperation with the base of the valve stem out of contact with the innertube wall; but should leakage occur about the valve stem, it may bereleased whereupon pressure within the tube will force the base of thestem incontact with the tube wall, sealing the space about the valve.This aspect of the invention is the same as that covered in my priorapplication, Serial No. 146,913, filed November 8, 1926, of which thisapplication is a continuation in part.

' In the drawings which form a part of this application, the preferredform of the apparatus is shown and the description thereof 5 in thespecification is directed particularly to that form, but it will beappreciated that the invention is not limited in its scope or o erationto exact conformity therewith and e ranges and modifications may be madewithin the statement of the invention and as set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross-section through a tube tral ring-shaped and steamchambered vulcanizer section 1 which is supported by a bracket 2 from aframe or support 3.

The outer surface of the member 1 is formed with a curved trough orcavity 4 which constitutes the inner cavity of the tube mold, themolding cavity being completed by an outer expansible jacket consistingof two steam chambered halves 5 and 6, the inner surfaces of which areformed with trough-like cavities 7 which, with the recess 4, completesthe cavity for the tube 10. The

valve stem for the tube, which may be either straight or bent, isindicated at 11 and 12, the former bein a straight valve and the lattera bent-Va ve. During the process of vulcanization the interior of thetube is connected through piping 15 with a source of fluid underpressure. 7 i

The mold 1 at the valve stem is cut away to form a lateral guideway 20in which is slidably mounted a block 21 having flanges 22 thereon whichare held in place by plates or rails 23. The mold is provided with anapproximately semi-circular recess 24 for the reception of one side ofthe valve stem and the inner end of the slide block is formed with asimilar recess 25, the two recesses closely encircling the valve stem atthe base where either type is radial to the tube. These recesses may beflattened slightly to accommodate the flattened sides of the valvestems. The upper inner surface of the slide outer surface of the blockis eration of the slide block.

zontal portion of the bent valve stem as shown in Figure 1.

The straight valve stem may be inserted and removed without operatingthe slide block, but when the bent valve stem is inserted it isnecessary to move the slide block outwardly to the position shown inFigure 3. In order to provide a stop for the outward movement of theslide block, a shallow groove 30 is formed for a short distance inwardlyon the block and on the mold section 1 is pivoted on bolt 31 a weightedhandle 32 havin an car 34: which rides in the groove and a uts againstthe end thereof to arrest outward movement of the block. The handle orlever 32 also affords a lock for the slide at its inner position, beingdesigned to pass over the end of the block and clamp it in osition. Toobtain a firm locking of the slide block in its innermost osition theownwardly -and outwardly inclined, as indicated at 35 m Figure 1, andthe lever is confined by a bridge piece 36 so that as the lever isbrought down the block 21 is securely clamped in position.

Located within the block is a longitudinal pin 40, a portion of which isin screwthreaded engagement with the block and the inner end of which isarranged to bear against and clamp the valve stem in position; The outerend of the pin is provided with a handle 42 by which it may be turnedand which also affords an eas hold for opn the process of vulcanizing,it is desirable that the valve stem be clamped in position so as toassist in connecting the pressure line 15. If desired the valve stem maythen be released to move while the pressure is being applied so that thetube may seat properly in the cavitv, and after the tube has been seatedand w en vulcanization has commenced and the rubber of the tube issoftened, it may be desirable to permit the valve stem to embed in therubber and then to clamp the valve stem to prevent it being forcedthrough the wall of the tube. To accomplish this the pin may betightened and loosened to release or clamp the valve stem in acordancewith the particular stage of the process. The clamp. may also be used tohold the base of the valve stem out of contact with the inner wall ofthe tube, unless leakage occurs about the stem, whereupon the stem maybe released momentarily so thatthe pressure within the tube will forcethe base pf ltihe stem against the tube wall closing the It is thoughtthat the operation of the apparatus will be clear from the. descriptionwhich has been given and further details are unnecessary. In so far asknown to me, the described construction is the most practical and easilyoperated device of its kind for vulcanizing tubes with either type ofvalve stem. No changing of the apparatus is required and the tubes maycome to the operator indiscriminately as to the type and character ofvalve stem employed, as both types can be readily handled and placed inposition without changes in the equipment. Other objects and advantageswill be apparent from the description and such features as are broadlynew are intended to be covered in the claims appended hereto.

The curved upper surface of the slide block is a valuable feature of theinvention, it being noted that as this surface intersects the toricsurface on the interior of the mold cavity, the angle at which thesurfaces meet is blunt and substantially a right angle entircly aboutthe opening when the section represented by the end of the block isremoved. As a result, no sharp or feathered edge or surface isgenerated, which, if present, would chip or break.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. A tube vulcanizer comprising a sectional mold, one of said sectionshavin a trough-shaped cavity for the inner sur ace of the tube, thelower portion of the cavity having an opening therein sufficient topermit the passage of a bent valve stem, and a movable block received inthe opening and completing the molding cav1ty, an aperture for the baseof the valve stem being formed partially in the block and partially inthe mold section.

2. A tube vulcanizer comprising a sectional mold, one of said sectionshaving a trough-shaped cavity for the inner surface of the tube, thelower portion of the cavity having an opening therein suflicient topermit the passage of a bent valve stem, a lateral slideway formed inthe mold section leading from the opening, and a block movable in theslideway, an aperture for the base of the valve stem being formedpartially in the block and partially in the mold section.

3. A tube vulcanizer comprising a sectional mold, one of said sectionshavin a trough-shaped cavity for the inner sur ace of the tube, thelower portion of the cavity having anopening therein suflicient topermit the passage of a bent valve stem, a lateral slideway formed inthe mold section leading from the opening, a block movable in theslideway, an aperture for the base of the valve stem being formedpartially in the block and partially in the mold section, and means tolock the block in its innermost position.

4:. A tube vulcanizer comprising a sectional mold, one of said sectionshavin a trough-shaped cavity for the inner sur ace of the tube, thelower portion of the cavity having an opening therein suflicient topermit the passage of a bent valve stem, a movable block received in theopening and completing the molding cavity, an aperture for the base ofthe valve stem being formed partially in the block and partiall in themold section, and means to secure t e block in position within the mold.

5. A tube vulcanizer comprising a sectional mold, one of said sectionshaving a trough-shaped cavity for the inner surface of the tube. thelower portion of the cavity having an opening therein suflic-ient topermitthe passage of a bent valve stem, a lateral. slideway formed inthe mold section leading from the opening, a-block movable in theslide-way, an aperture for the base of the valve stem being formedpartially in the block and partially in the mold section, and a valvesecuring pin mounted in the block.

6. A tube vulcanizer comprising a sectional mold, one of said sectionshaving a trough-shaped cavity for the inner surface of the tube, thelower; portion of the cavity having an opening therein sufficient topermit the passage of a bent valve stem, a lateral slideway formed inthe mold section leading from the opening, a block movable in theslideway, an aperture for the base of the valve stem being formedpartially in the block and partially in the mold section,

means to lock the block in its innermost position, and a pin screwed insaid block and having an inner end to bear against and clamp the valvestem within the aperture.

- 7. An apparatus for the vulcanization of inner tubes comprisingseparable mold sections adapted to provide a chamber for the tube, apassageway being formed in the mold for the'valve stem, and a deviceoperable, while the mold is closed, in one direction to grip the valvestem and hold it from longitudinal movement and in the oppositedirection to release the valve stem to permit free movement of the stemthrough the passageway.

8. An apparatus for the vulcanization of inner tubes comprisingseparable mold sections adapted to provide a chamber for the tube, apassageway being formed in the mold for the valve stem, and a set screwoperable, while the. mold is closed, in one direction to grip the valvestem and hold it from longitudinal movement and in the opposite direction to release the valve stem to permit free movement of the stemthrough the passageway.

OTTO J. U KE.

